Fans assault player's mum

Fans of Peruvian football club Cienciano assaulted the mother of a player from a rival side after she confronted them for shouting racist taunts at her son during a match, media reports said.

Jhoel Herrera’s team, Real Garcilaso, were in the final minutes of a 1-1 draw with cross-town rivals Cienciano last Sunday in the southern city of Cusco when his mother confronted a group of fans who were shouting insults at her son, who is black, according to local media.

When the fans reportedly slapped his mother, Herrera, 34, ran to the stands to defend her, leading to a fight that had to be controlled by the police.

“We firmly condemn and repudiate this latest case of racism in Peruvian football,” said the head of the Peruvian football association, Renzo Sanguinetti, adding the league would “punish those responsible”.

Cienciano apologised to the player and his family and said the fans had no ties to the club.